Hose-coupling.



H. L. RULAND.

HOSE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED 00125, 1909.

I ntor' W Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

In we -M% HOWARD L. RULAND, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

HOSE-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 25, 1909.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910. Serial No. 524,557.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Howann L. RULAND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hose-Couplings, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pipe and hose connections, and has for itsobject the convenient and quick coupling of a hose, as is es peciallydesirable in connection with the use of fire fighting apparatus.

My invention consists in a stationary spout and a collar to be appliedthereto, hooks to hold the spout on the collar, and a cam to engage withthe hooks and cause them to release the spout and collar from eachother, as well as in the parts and in the details of construction andarrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described andclaimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view, partly in longitudinal section andpartly in side elevation, of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa front elevation of the device, part of the casing being broken away toreveal the arrangement of the cam and other parts. Figs. 3 and 4:,respectively, are detail sectional side elevations corresponding to theview shown in Fig. 1, of the spout, and of the collar, detached. Fig. 5is a detail, in diametrical section, of the cam. Fig. 6 is a rearelevation of the device. Fig. 7 1s a detail perspective view of one ofthe hooks.

The spout 1 has a rearwardly extending hub 1 provided with interiorthreads 1", so that it may be screwed onto a water plug or otherconnection with which it is to be used. This spout has another hub 1extending forward and tapering in that direction, with a conical outersurface 1 which is ground smooth to receive the corresponding innersurface of the collar 2. An exteriorly extending annular flange 1comprises the middle part of the spout 1, and is provided with a seriesof slots 1*, each of segmental shape, with its radial inner convex side1" sloped downward toward the front of the spout.

The collar 2, above mentioned, comprises a forwardly extending hub 2tapering fora surface of the hub 2 of the collar.

wardly and having a conical inner surface 2, ground smooth, and with aseries of external threads 2 at its forward part. An exteriorlyextending annular flange 2 forms the rearward part of this collar 2.This flange 2 is provided with a series of openings 2, in number thesame as the slots 1" in the flange 1" of the spout, in the present casefour. These openings 2" are each just sutlicient in width to admit thehooks 3 and allow them to have a certain amount of movement radially ofthe collar. These hooks extend rearwardly through these openings andthrough the slots 1" of the spout, and engage radially inwardly with theflange 1 of the spout, adjacent to the sloping sides of the slots 1 Theparts are so proportioned that when these hooks thus engage the outerconical surface 1*" of the hub 1 of the spout and the inner conicalsurface 2 of the collar are in intimate contact throughout, so that,both of these surfaces being accurately finished, a watertight joint isformed.

The hooks 3 are pivoted to swing radially of the collar just fin-ward ofthe openings 2, two lugs 3' being provided to flank each hook, with pins3 extending through the hooks and logs. Each hook has a forwardextension 3, which, of course, when moved radially inward, causes therearward part of the hook, or the hook proper, to move outward and. bedisengaged from the flange 1 of the spout. However, these hooks arecaused to normally remain in engagement by means of springs 3 enteringsockets 3 in the extensions 3 of'the hooks, which springs are compressedagainst the adjacent Thus arranged, when the collar 2 is applied to thespout 1, bringing the conical surfaces together, the rearward ends ofthe hooks 3, which are tapered for this purpose, slide out over thesloping surfaces of the sides 1" of the slots 1', through these slots,and, when they have passed through, the springs 3 act to engage thehooks against the rearward sideof the flange 1", as hereinbeforedescribed, whereupon the collar is held securely and firmly on thespout.

It will be seen that, each of the hooks being separately andindependently pressed into engaging position by its individual spring,the releasing of the collar from the spout requires that all the hooksbe disengaged when the collar is being withdrawn. To effect thissimultaneous disengagement of all the hooks, a cam 4 is provided,comprising an annular shell t with a rearwardly and radially inwardlyfaced ournal bearing 4: corresponding to a forwardly and radiallyoutwardly faced journal bearing 4 on the flange 2 of the collar. Thisshell at has, at its forward side, a series of radially inwardlyextending segments l one being provided for each hook 3, and each ofthese segments 4? has its inner edge a eccentric to the rotation of thecam on its journal bearings above described, and is provided at each ofits terminations with a lug or stop 43. These segments are so spacedaround the cam, and are so proportioned, that each one of them willembrace the forward extension 3 of one of the hooks 3 between its lugsor stops 45 and allow a cer tain amount of rotation of the cam on itsjournal bearings before engaging either of the lugs or stops 4? with aside of the extension 3* of the hook. At the same time the radiallyoutwardly presented side 3 of the extension 3 of each hook 3 is inclinedcircumferentially of the device to correspond to the eccentric trend ofthe inner edge a of the adjacent segment 43, and comes in engagementtherewith. These eccentric edges of the segments are so arranged thatwhen the cam 4:, of which they form part, is in a certain position, thehooks will be allowed to remain in engagement with the flange 1 of thespout, under the action of the springs 3 but, when the cam is rotated tothe extent allowed by the lugs or stops P, the forward extensions 3 ofthe hooks will all be pressed radially inward, simultaneously, againstthe action of the springs 3 and the hooks disengaged from the flange 1of the spout, allowing the collar to be withdrawn from the spout.

To form a cover for the cam and the hooks and their springs, as well asto hold the cam against displacement from its journal bearing forwardly,a casing 5 is provided, comprising a shell 5 open at its rear withinternal threads 5 to screw onto ex- I ternal threads 5 on the flange 2of the collar immediately outside and to the rear of the journal bearingof the cam. The front of this shell 5 is provided with an annularinwardly extending flange 5 of such extent that a circular opening 5 isleft of just suflicient diameter to allow the conical forward extension2 of the collar to extend through.

For turning the cam 4 it is provided with a handle 4P which extendsforward through a segmental slot 4" in the casing 5, of sufficientlength to allow the required rotation of the cam. To resist the rotationof the cam for releasing the hooks 8, and to cause the cam to normallyhave the position for permitting the hooks to engage with the flange onthe spout, a series of tension springs 6 are provided interiorly of thecam, between it and the flange 2 of the collar, these springs extendingsubstantially tangentially of the device, and each having one of itsends attached to a lug 6 on the cam, and its other end attached to a lug6 on the flange 2 of the collar. These springs 6 are so applied thatrotation of the cam to release the hooks will stretch the springs, andas soon as the cam is released they will cause it to return to theposition in which it allows the hooks to engage; at the same time, thehooks, under the action of the springs 3 will resume their engagingpositions. The cams, as will be noted, allow the hooks to yield whenpassing over the edges of the slots in the flange of the spout, so thatthe coupling of the device is accomplished without any attention otherthan to cause the hooks to enter the segmental slots in the flange 1 ofthe spout and shove the collar onto the spout, upon which the device issecured automatically. To facilitate the application of the collar tothe -spout, the segmental slots are made amply long, so that the hooks 3may enter without special care as to the position in which the collar ispresented to the spout. The releasing of the device is convenientlyaccomplished by merely rotating the cam by means of the handle 4", andwithdrawing the collar from the spout.

To form a proper finish to the rear part of the device, the flange 2 ofthe collar has a rearwardly projecting rim 2 which surrounds the flange1 of the spout when the collar is secured on the spout.

The ease of application of my improved coupling renders it particularlysuitable for use by fire departments for making the hose connection tostreet water plugs, where prompt action is of the utmost importance,while the eflicient joint formed thereby is adequate for the demands ofthe service, avoiding the trouble of leakage under high pressure ascompletely as does the ordinary screw connection, which is only appliedwith considerable delay and requires the use of a wrench to apply it.

For use on water plugs, my improved device is designed with the view ofleaving the spout 1 on the plug permanently, while the collar 2 ispermanently attached to the hose. Besides this use, it will be notedthat the coupling is equally applicable for con necting differentsections of hose, and will also be found useful in other systems wherean efficient connection for carryin a fluid is desired to be madequickly ant conveniently.

In view of thedifl'erent adaptations to which my improved device issusceptible, it will be understood that considerable variation of minordetails of construction and arrangement may occur without departure fromthe scope and spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hose coupling, a spout comprising a hub with a conical outersurface tapered forwardly and an exteriorly extending annular flange atits rear, a collar comprising a hub with a conical inner surfacetapering forwardly and an outwardly extending annular flange at itsrear, said conical surfaces of the spout and-flange, respectively, beingadapted to make intimate contact, and the flanges of said spout andcollar, respectively, being adapted to come adjacent when the conicalsurfaces make such contact, a series of hooks adjacent to the flangesand adapted to engage with one of the flanges to hold the spout andcollar together, and a cam having a journal bearing with one of theflanges and provided with segments with edges eccentric to its journalbearing and adapted to engage with said hooks, whereby, when said cam isrotated on its bearing the hooks are caused to disengage from theflange, and allow the collar to be withdrawn from the spout,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a hose coupling, a spout comprising a hub extending forwardly andan annular flange at its rear, a collar comprising a hub extendingforwardly and an annular flange at its rear, the hubs being adapted tofit together and the flanges to come adjacent, a series of hooksadjacent to the flanges and adapted to engage with one of the flangesand hold the spout and collar together, a cam having a journal bearingwith one of the flanges and provided with segments with edges eccentricto its journal bearing and adapted to engage with the hooks to disengagethem from the flange, and a spring engaging with the cam and with one ofsaid flanges, whereby it opposes movement of the cam to act on thehooks, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a hose coupling, a spout comprising a hub extending forwardly andan annular flange at its rear, a collar comprising a hub extendingforwardly and an annular flange at its rear, the hubs being adapted tofit together and the flanges to come adjacent, a series of hooksadjacent to the flanges and adapted to engage with one of the flangesand hold the spout and collar together, a cam having a journal bearingwith one of the flanges and provided with segments with edges eccentricto its journal bearing and adapted to engage with the hooks to disengage them from the flange, and a spring engaging with the cam and withone of said flanges, a casing covering said cam, provided with asegmental opening, and a handle on said cam extending through saidopening, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a hose coupling, a spout comprising a hub extending forwardly andan annular flange at its rear, a collar comprising a hub extendingforwardly and an annular flange at its rear, the hubs being adapted tofit together and the flanges to come adjacent, a series of hooksadjacent to the flanges and adapted to engage with one of the flangesand hold the spout and collar together, a cam having a journal bearingwith one of the flanges and provided with segments with edges eccentricto its journal bearing and adapted to engage with the hooks to disengagethem from the flange, and a casing covering said cam, mounted on one ofsaid flanges, and holding said cam upon its journal bearing,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In. a hose coupling, a spout comprising a hub with a conical outersurface tapered forwardly and an exteriorly extending annular flange atits rear provided with a series of segmental slots, a collar comprisinga hub with a conical inner surface tapering forwardly, and an outwardlyextending annular flange at its rear provided with a series of openings,said collar being adapted to engage its conical inner surface with theconical outer surface of the spout, and the flanges of the spout andcollar being adapted to come adjacent when said conical surfaces makesuch contact, a series of hooks pivotally mount-ed on the collar forwardof its flange and extending rearwa rdly through the open ings in theflange, said hooks being adapted to swing radially outward to passthrough the segmental slots in the flange on the spout, and to engagewith said flange at the rear and adjacent to the radially inward sidesof the slots in the flange on the spout, said sides of the slots beingsloped radially inward and forwardly for the engagement of said hookswhereby they are swung radially outward when passing through the slots,extensions on the hooks forward of their pivotal mountings, springsacting on said extensions to cause the hooks to engage with the rear ofthe flange on the spout, a cam surrounding the hooks and having ajournal bearing with the flange on the collar, segments extendingradially inward on said cam and having inner edges eccentric to thejournal bearing of the cam, said edges being adapted to engage with theextensions of the hooks, whereby when the cam is rotated they Will causethe hooks to disengage from the flange on the spout, springs engagingwith the cam and With the flange on the collar, whereby they oppose therotation of the cam to disengage the hooks, a casing surrounding the camand secured to the 10 flange onv the collar, having a segmental slot inits forward side, and a handle on the cam extending through the slot,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

HOWARD L. RULAND. Witnesses CLARENCE FARDEND, W. J. SCHULTZ.

